Running Continues, Biking Too

So my little adventure in becoming a runner is progressing according to plan, slowly ramping up the distance, time, and pace.

Since the first of the year, my distance run per month has increased from 26 to 28 to 34 to 43, which feels like a manageable month-over-month increase (image via Runalyze):

The nice surprise this month is that my pace has picked up, without even trying. Getting stronger, becoming acclimated, naturally leads to being better able to maintain a higher speed for longer, apparently.

The other big news this month is that I did my first 10K run, at a solid 11:08/mile pace (using 4:00/1:00 run/walk intervals). Most of my other runs were in the 2-4 mile range, and I’ve experimented a bit with continuous runs over those distances. I find that I can keep up a smooth pace for the first mile or so, then begin to feel fatigue, and in the 2-3 mile range it becomes more of a slog. The run/walk technique definitely helps delay the onset of fatigue, I think, at greater distances. So I’ll probably keep using that for longer runs.

For May, the objective is to do a real 5K race, probably another 10K training run.

As for biking, my monthly progression has been 395, 166, 413, and 430 miles. February was a really poor showing, but the other months have been better. I came up a little short of my 500-mile goal for April, but I’m still on pace for a 5200-mile year.

Most of my rides are just daily transportation, and I haven’t done many longer recreational rides. I’ll need to begin bumping up the distance very soon. I’ve not made any definite tour plans for the summer, but I’m sure that some longer days will happen at some point.

In the meantime, the plan is to keep on keeping on.

Photo of the month: Sunset on Elm Creek:

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I enjoy riding bicycles all over -- city streets, suburbia, rural roads, gravel roads, dirt roads, rail-trails, and singletrack. I love exploring the countryside and finding the interesting and historical treasures hidden in plain sight. You can follow my rides on Strava.